Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. .
Chapter 3 The Muscular System 67
Directional Movements
elevation Raising of a body part.
depression Lowering of a body
part.
fl exion
FLEK-shun
fl ex/o = to bend
-ion = process; state;
condition
The movement of two
body surfaces toward
each other, as in the act
of bending.
extension
eks-TEN-shun
ex- = out; away from
tens/o = stretched;
strained
-ion = process; state;
condition
The straightening of a
limb after it has been
fl exed.
hyperextension
HIGH-per-eks-TEN-shun
hyper- = above normal
tens/o = stretched;
strained
-ion = process; state;
condition
The act of bending a
joint or limb beyond
normal extension or
range of motion.
dorsifl exion
DOR-sih-FLEK-shun
dorsi- = back
fl ex/o = to bend
-ion = process; state;
condition
Movement of the sole
of the foot upward
(fl exed toward the
lower leg).
plantar fl exion
PLAN-ter FLEK-shun
plant/o = sole of the
foot
-ar = pertaining to
fl ex/o = to bend
-ion = process; state;
condition
Motion of the plantar
surface (sole of the
foot) away from the
midline of the body.
Directional Movements
rotation Movement of a body
part around its
longitudinal axis—
that is, lengthwise.
(Imagine doing “the
Twist” with your foot.)
medial (internal)
rotation
Movement medially,
or toward the midline
of the body. (Imagine
rotating one foot
inward, toward the
other foot.)
lateral (external)
rotation
Movement laterally,
or away from the
midline. (Imagine
rotating one foot
outward, away from
the other.)
pronation
proh-NAY-shun
Rotational motion of
the forearm in which
the palm moves to face
downward.
supination
SUP-ih-NAY-shun
Rotational motion of
the forearm in which
the palm moves to face
upward.
circumduction
SER-kum-DUK-shun
circum- = around
duct/o = to lead
-ion = process; state;
condition
Rotation of an arm or
leg (as if “drawing a
circle” with the limb).
This type of motion
occurs in multiple
planes.
(Continued)